The Renters’ Rights Act is coming into force on 1 May 2026, and it will fundamentally reshape the private rental sector. For tenants, it brings greater security and protection. For landlords, it brings significant changes to how tenancies work – and, inevitably, how most other letting agents charge for their services.
If you’re a landlord, you need to understand what’s changing and how it will affect your costs. More importantly, you need to know which agents will try to recover lost income through hidden fees and surprise charges.
What’s Changing in May 2026?
The most significant change is the abolition of fixed-term tenancies. From May 2026, all new tenancies – and existing tenancies – will become Assured Periodic Tenancies. This means tenants can remain indefinitely until either party gives proper notice to end the agreement.
On the surface, this sounds straightforward. But for most other letting agents, it creates a major problem: the end of renewal fees.
Currently, when a fixed-term tenancy ends, most other letting agents charge landlords a renewal fee, typically £50-£150 to process the new tenancy agreement. With periodic tenancies, there are no renewals. No renewals mean no renewal fees. This represents a significant loss of income.
How Will Most Other Letting Agents Recover This Lost Income?
Most other letting agents need to maintain their revenue. History shows us that when one income stream disappears, businesses find alternative ways to recoup the loss, this will likely mean:
Set-up and inventory fees for every let. With tenancies potentially lasting just two months before a tenant moves on, landlords could face £500-£1000 in set-up and inventory charges multiple times per year from most other agents.
Increased commission on contractor work. Many other agents already markup repairs and maintenance. Expect these markups to increase as most other agents look to recover lost renewal fee income.
Higher core management fees. Some agents will simply raise their standard management fees across the board.
For landlords with multiple properties or frequent turnovers, these additional costs from most other agents could easily add £2,000 – £5,000+ annually.
Rockett Home Rentals: Built for Transparency, Not Hidden Fees
Rockett Home Rentals has never charged renewal fees. We’ve never added commission to contractor work. And we never will.
Unlike most other letting agents, our business model is built on a single, transparent annual fee – regardless of how many times your property is let during that year.
This isn’t just a pricing advantage. It reflects our fundamental approach to landlord relationships: transparency, consistency, and genuine partnership.
What’s Included in Your Annual Fee?
When you choose Rockett Home Rentals, your annual fee covers everything you need to let and manage your property professionally, services that most other agents charge extra for:
Insurance & Legal Protection Rent Protection & Legal Expenses Insurance that covers lost rent if your tenant stops paying, plus all legal fees up to vacant possession.
Marketing & Viewings Professional photography, advertising on Rightmove, Zoopla, On the Market, and social media marketing. We handle all viewings so you don’t have to.
Tenant Vetting Professional credit and reference checks to ensure you get reliable tenants from day one.
Professional Inventory A comprehensive inventory conducted by a professional inventory company, plus midterm inspections and professional checkout. This protects both you and your tenant.
Tenancy Management Contracts, standing orders, utility notifications, and deposit registration – all handled by us.
Re-letting Services When your tenant moves on, we handle the entire re-letting process at no extra cost. No per-let fees. No surprise charges – unlike most other agents.
Out-of-Hours Support We include an out-of-hours triage service that connects your tenants to qualified tradespeople via video consultation. This service can reduce emergency call-out charges by up to 50% – saving both you and your tenant money.
Why This Matters in 2026
As the letting industry adjusts to the Renters’ Rights Act, landlords who’ve chosen agents with transparent, all-inclusive pricing will be protected from the fee increases heading their way. Those who’ve chosen most other agents relying on per-tenancy charges will face mounting costs.
The choice is clear. Choose an agent built on transparency, not hidden fees.
Get in Touch
If you’d like to understand how Rockett Home Rentals can protect your rental income and simplify your landlord experience, contact us today for more information.
01782 638 111